Real life "Star Wars" lightsaber burns skin

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It may have Star Wars fanboys frothing at the mouth, but it'll soon have them queuing at the local burns and eye injury clinics. The Spyder III Pro Arctic Series laser pointer, which is modelled to imitate a lightsaber, comes with a warning that it "will blind permanently and instantly and set fire quickly to skin and other body parts". Fun then.

The pointer features a blue diode laser, such as those found in Blu-ray players, which according to manufacturer Wicked Lasers, helps it emit a 445nm cool blue, ultra high power 1W beam which appears up to 4,000 per cent brighter than the violet beams on its other models.

That also means, of course, it is considerably more powerful and, therefore, much more dangerous.

Now, we don't usually like to get on our high horses at Pocket-lint, and the mere mention of gadgets that can make us feel more like Jedis would normally have us as excited as a 4-year-old full of sherbet and full fat Pepsi, but there are two things that worry us about the Spyder II Pro Arctic Series:

One, what on Earth is it for? What possible laser pointing duties would you need to perform where you would need protective goggles and non-flammable wall-charts?

And two, the reaction of a select few Star Wars fans. Reportedly, one Twitter posting even reads, "I must have this. Birthday present anyone? I will KILL things, with FIRE". Another writes, "real lasers that resemble Star Wars lightsabres, that can burn skin, cut through plastic and ignite matches - yes please".

Obviously, they are clearly nutters, but, considering that the pointer is available for a mere $200 and Wicked Lasers will seemingly ship to anywhere in the World, we're scared that they, or other complete tools, might get their hands on them.

What do you think? Can you think of a purpose for a blue diode laser pointer that doesn't involve blinding next door's labrador?